NIA notices, Tomar’s statement a pointer to the fact that govt is now prepared to take on the farmers

Shaken by the powerful farmers’ movement against the new farm laws, the domineering Narendra Modi government has started using its ‘Brahmashtra’, the last weapon, implicating the farmers and their sympathisers in false and fabricated cases through its pet parrot: the NIA. Farm unions have said notices being served by the NIA could be a hurdle in ongoing talks, labelling it as “harassment” by the government.

Ever since the farmers launched their agitation for complete repeal of the three ‘black’ laws and legalising the payment of the MSP, the saffron vigilantes have initiated a wild vilification campaign against them with the tacit support of the Union government. A section of the ruling party and the media in their mission to malign them wondered how they were wearing jeans, using smart phones, speaking English and eating pizza. Some top leaders and ministers, including Railway Minister Piyush Goyal cast aspersions on them, alleging they were close to ‘Khalistanis’ and ‘Naxalites’.

Realising that this nature of insinuation campaign has failed to serve the mission, the government has asked the NIA to swing into action. In quick response to their political masters’ directions, the agency served notices to nearly 20 leaders, journalists, social activists and sympathisers to come to their Delhi office for interrogation. A joint council of the farmers’ unions has directed them not to respond to the notices. They plan to raise this matter before the judiciary.

Addressing the media, senior leader Darshan Pal cautioned the rulers from resorting to this ‘nasty game’. Among those who received notices are farmers’ leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, Punjabi actor and activist Deep Sindhu, Punjab-based television journalist Jasbir Singh, and activist Gurpreet Singh, popularly known as Mintu Malwa.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha condemned the act of serving of these notices and said that legal recourse will be taken against the move.

That the government has hardened its stance is also perceptible from the suggestion of the Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who has been leading the government’s negotiating team, to the farmers to give up their “stubborn” stand on the new farm laws and come for a clause by clause discussion. He reiterated the claim that a large number of farmers and experts are in favour of farm laws. “Now we expect that farmers discuss the laws clause-wise on January 19 and tell government what they want other than the repeal of the laws”.

This statement by Tomar makes its obvious that the meeting scheduled on January 19, like previous eight meetings, would also fail to yield any solution. This is also a pointer to the fact that the government is now finally prepared to take on the farmers. It has been continuing with facade of holding meetings for simply avoiding any ugly standoff ahead of Republic Day. The manner in which developments are taking shape, it is sure that the government will crack down on the farmers in near future and smash their agitation.

The vilification by the saffrons and the government agencies of the farmers’ agitation has similarities with the sit-in at Shaheen Bagh in the early months of 2020. Muslim women resorting to Satyagraha at Shaheen Bagh in protest against the Modi government’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act were maligned as supporters of foreign countries and described as self-seekers.

In the same manner, the Sikh farmers sitting a Satyagraha are accused of being Khalistanis and Naxalites. Both belong to minority community. Surprisingly, both movements were protesting laws drafted by a democratically-elected government and duly passed by Parliament.

The unfortunate aspect has been that the majority in Parliament is being used to suppress the voice of aggrieved and attempts are being made to communalise peoples’ legitimate movements. The government has been acting in haste to fulfil the ambitions of the capitalist cronies. Even the death of 125 farmers has failed to move the rulers.

It is shocking to witness demonising members of a community synonymous with patriotic military service. It is beyond comprehension how could any government doubt the character of nationalism and patriotism of the farmers from Punjab and Haryana.

The urgency of the government to have the verdict in its favour is also manifest in the hurry of some of the members of the SC-appointed committee to hold its meeting. One member, Bhupinder Singh Mann, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union, has recused himself from the panel. The Supreme Court is yet to reconstitute the committee. But instead of waiting for the court fresh order, Anil Ghanwat, one of the members announced: ‘If apex court does not appoint new member, existing members will continue’ and went on to fix January 19 as the day for the meeting. Ghanwat is the president of the Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra).

While the government is ready to strike the farmers at the right place and at the opportune moment, the protesting farmers have made it categorically clear that they will not call off their proposed tractor parade in Delhi when India will celebrate Republic Day on January 26. The farmers also plan to bring out tableaus of all states at the parade. It would be a sort of cultural celebration on the Republic Day. This will be a celebration by the real Indians who are feeding the Republic.

(IPA Service)

(Views expressed are personal)